Title of the Project: Community-based zine research method
Principal Investigator: Jessamyn Moxie, PhD, MPH – UNC Charlotte

Concise Summary: The purpose of this research study is to evaluate a community-based zine research method. Participation is voluntary and open to individuals who are age 18 and older who live and/or work in Charlotte.  You will fill out a worksheet, discuss with another participant and make a zine, then complete a brief questionnaire. Following completion of the program and the survey, you will receive a $20 Amazon gift card.  You may feel uncomfortable answering some of the questions, but this risk is thought to be unlikely. It is unlikely that you will benefit from participating in this study but what we learn will help develop the community-based zine research method and generate zines to share ideas with other Charlotte residents. 

If you are interested in learning more about this study, please continue to read below.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate a community-based zine research method. This program stimulates conversation between community members then creates a zine based on the conversation. A zine (short for “magazine”, pronounced “zeen”) is a type of do-it-yourself publication or small booklet. We believe this type of dissemination may engage other audiences than typical scientific dissemination, and may encourage future dialogues.

You must be age 18 or older to participate in this study, and live/work in Charlotte.

As a participant in this study, you will fill in a worksheet and discuss with another participant, then create a zine for about 1 hour 45mins, then complete a brief survey on paper that will take approximately 10 minutes. The program itself will take about 2 hours. The questions will ask you about how you envision a Charlotte without violence. In addition, you will provide demographic information such as your race, education level, and age. The questions are about your experiences but are not expected to be sensitive. During your conversation with another participant the study team will be present and take notes. These notes will be shared with both of you in order to inform how you make a group zine. The conversations will be recorded and transcribed so that we can explore how this method enhances conversations. The audio recording will be deleted after transcription.

The zine that you create may be reproduced and shared through violence prevention networks and efforts. For example, photocopies may be shared at a community event or it may be scanned to be included on UNC Charlotte’s Violence Prevention Center website. Your zine will be shared as you create it, and you will have the choice to include your name/pseudonym or not by writing it on the zine.

The survey questions are personal but are not considered sensitive questions.  Therefore, while you may feel uncomfortable answering the questions, the risk of this is thought to be unlikely.

You will not benefit personally by participating in this study.  You may appreciate the chance to reflect on your thoughts about a community without violence. What we learn about the program may be beneficial for improving how we do this method. We expect that this may lead to enhanced engagement with research by lay audiences.

All members of the research team will have access to the de-identified data. Other people may need to see the information we collect about you, to make sure that we are conducting this study in a safe and appropriate manner, including people who work for UNC Charlotte (e.g., auditors, Office of Research Protections and Integrity staff), and other agencies with appropriate permission.

You will receive a $20 Amazon gift card after you finish the program and then the survey.  We cannot give you a gift card in a smaller increment.  If you do not complete the survey and the program, you will not receive the gift card.
Participation is voluntary.  You may choose not to take part in the study.  You may start participating and change your mind and stop participation at any time.
For questions about this research, you may contact Jessamyn Moxie at jbowlin9@charlotte.edu or 980- 224-2893. If you have questions or concerns about your rights as a participant in this study, contact the Office of Research Protections and Integrity at uncc-irb@charlotte.edu.  

I have read and understand the information provided. I understand that I may contact the researcher listed above if I have any questions now or later.  I understand that the research team will provide a copy of this consent for my records.  I freely consent to participate in the study.